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Latest News from the International Guild of Town Pipers

Compiled and edited by Alan Radford

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Latest News

RSS news feed
Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:00:00 GMT - The IGTP has included this RSS news feed into the Waits' Website homepage to provide the latest news about waits and their musical activities. It is maintained by Alan Radford, and relevant news items may be submitted to waits.events@btinternet.com

Fourth International Festival of Town Pipers
Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:00:00 GMT - From September 3rd to 5th this year, waits will return after six years to the city of 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) in The Netherlands for their International Festival. Groups planning to attend include Waits of Charlotte, Colchester, Doncaster, Gloucester, Kings Lynn, Leeds, Ludlow and York, the Ely Piper, the Stadtpfeifers von Dresden and Stadspijpers van 's-Hertogenbosch. Our hosts, The Stadspijpers van 's-Hertogenbosch are busy working on securing sponsorship for the event, which will include a lot of music making and perhaps a concert and certainly a great opportunity to meet, socialise and talk to other Waites. For accounts and pictures of our earlier festivals including Den Bosch in 2004, visit the IGTP Festivals page.

Winchester Waytes on TV
Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT - The Winchester Waytes performed on "Songs of Praise" on BBC television on June 13th. Apart from playing "Summer is icumen in" in the cathedral, Tim Norris also gave an explanation of the historical role of waits.

Music for Den Bosch
Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:00:00 GMT - PDF and MIDI files of music for "The Big Blow" in Den Bosch in September have been placed on the Waits' Website, at the bottom of the 2010 Festival page. All festival participants will be expected to play at the Big Blow, so learn a line of "Pavan 18", "Pavane d'Angleterre", "Passtime with Good Company" and "La Bataille". The intrada "The Clock" is a fanfare for trumpets in D only. We will have about sixty musicians playing these four pieces on the Sunday, probably a world record for a renaissance band. Maybe we should contact The Guinness Book of Records to get it authenticated.

Ensemble de Ministrils Ciutat de Gandia
Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:00:00 GMT - We welcome Frederic Santamaria and his Ensemble de Ministrils Ciutat de Gandia to the fraternity of waits, and look forward to meeting the group at the Fourth International Festival in Den Bosch. The group was set up in 2007, and recently had what might be termed a pastoral visit from Tim Bayley of The York Waits. This is our second Spanish group, and there must be more out there somewhere.

Waits at the York Mystery Plays
Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:00:00 GMT - York Mystery Plays took place on pageant wagons on the streets of York on July 11th accompanied by the Waits of Baggshotte, Colchester, Doncaster, Gloucester, Leeds and York, and on July 18th accompanied by the Waits of Colchester, Doncaster, Leeds, Lincoln and York. In an email from Paul Toy, Artistic Director of the plays, he said "Just a quick note to say how much I appreciated the magnificent music you played. I know I speak for all the directors, casts and crew when I say that your contribution is vital to the success of the plays with the public, and we all relish the exciting sounds you make. They really do inspire us. As ever I have been told by audience members how much they enjoy your music, and have overheard very many appreciative comments as well."

Concerts and Events
Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 GMT - The Concerts and Events page is now listing performances by member bands up until the end of the Christmas season. If your member group has public events to add, please send them to the email link on the Events page.

Waits at the York Mystery Plays - the pictures
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT - Pictures taken by the official photographer are on line. So far, they all appear to be from the first weekend.

Fourth International Festival of Town Pipers - community singing
Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:30:00 GMT - The organisers wanted a few pieces for everyone to sing over a few beers, and Doncaster Waites have provided four rounds, the lyrics for Pastime with Good Companye, the music for which is already on the Festival page on The Waits' Website, and "Tomorrow the Fox will come to Town" page 1 and page 2 .

Fourth International Festival of Town Pipers - latest (probably final) update
Tue, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:00 GMT - The draft programme of the festival is now available on the Stadspijpers' website, with a translation here . The formal programme starts with an official welcome from Burgemeester Dr. A.G.J.M. Rombouts at 19.00 on the Friday and ends with the "Big Blow" on the Sunday afternoon. Additional information from Den Bosch: On the Friday there will be a short parade through the market square, so all bands should be prepared to play a piece in procession. At previous festivals, bands have also played a piece or two during the civic reception, so be warned. On the Saturday, each band will perform a couple of 15 minute sets, and music stands will be available so we don't need to take our own. On Sunday there will be another short parade through the market square. Then we will all participate in "The Big Blow". Our hosts have insurance for the festival, but not for the instruments of visiting bands, so please ensure that participants have adequate insurance. Bands are welcome to sell their own CDs during the festival.

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